Alcohol-based Mouthwashes Causes Cancer, Says Study

Published on January 12th, 2009

Well, this is frightening. Time to start a ‘Halitosis is Healthy’ campaign?

Leading independent experts have issued this strong warning after investigating latest scientific evidence linking alcohol-containing mouthwashes to the deadly disease.

Their review, published in the Dental Journal of Australia, concludes there is now “sufficient evidence” that “alcohol-containing mouthwashes contribute to the increased risk of development of oral cancer”.

The ethanol in mouthwash is thought to allow cancer-causing substances to permeate the lining of the mouth more easily and cause harm.

Acetaldehyde, a toxic by-product of alcohol that may accumulate in the oral cavity when swished around the mouth, is also believed to be carcinogenic.

Listerine, the nation’s biggest-selling mouthwash and a brand endorsed by the Australian Dental Association (ADA), contains as much as 26 per cent alcohol.
[...]
The review reported evidence from an international study of 3210 people which found daily mouthwash use was a “significant risk factor” for head and neck cancer, irrespective of whether users also drank alcohol or smoked. [...]Those who also drank alcohol had more than five times the risk – and even those who neither drank nor smoked still ran a four- to five-fold risk of contracting cancer. [...]A Brazilian study has also found regular mouthwash use is associated with oral cancer regardless of alcohol or tobacco consumption.

25 users responded in " Alcohol-based Mouthwashes Causes Cancer, Says Study "

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# 1 Doc said, on January 12th, 2009 at 6:11 am

Don’t forget the DHMO that is everywhere!

# 2 More Hype said, on January 12th, 2009 at 6:29 am

Yea right, people are dropping like flies from the deadly global warming effects of oral cancer due to washing their mouths out with soap and alcohol.

This leads me to suggesting a way to completely wipe out the budget deficit, fire all these scientists who keep wasting good tax payer money on studies that have been done thousands of times already.

# 3 QB said, on January 12th, 2009 at 6:43 am

Everything gives you cancer

# 4 Ivor Biggun said, on January 12th, 2009 at 6:56 am

It’s not the alcohol in the mouthwash that’s causing the problem, it’s all the other unpronounceable ingredients.

That’s why I gargle with Crown Royal after brushing. Refreshing, kills germs and leaves my breath whiskey-fresh!

# 5 QB said, on January 12th, 2009 at 6:57 am

Ivor, you are a role model

# 6 Breetai said, on January 12th, 2009 at 7:03 am

I agree with Doc. DHMO is statistically the most dangerous substance on earth.

# 7 Ron Larson said, on January 12th, 2009 at 7:25 am

Anything in excess will harm you.

# 8 nolimit662 said, on January 12th, 2009 at 7:40 am

How many times is this story going to be posted?? It was just posted by someone a day ago. Look back.

# 9 Dallas said, on January 12th, 2009 at 8:26 am

Cripes. This is frightening indeed.

What next, underarm deodorant? If so, the French will take over the world!

# 10 Ron Larson said, on January 12th, 2009 at 8:40 am

I wonder if these researchers are being led astray by the number.

What if: Of the population of people who use mouthwash, a much larger percentage of them do so in order to mask bad breath caused by other products. In particular, cigarettes and chewing tobacco.

It would seem to me that someone who regularly consumes something that causes bad breath would be more likely to also be a consumer of mouthwash. Therefore, it may be the bad-breath forming item, and not the mouthwash used to cover it, that could be the cause of the cancer.

Or, it could be a reaction between the mouthwash and something that this population tends to consume.

My point is that studies are often led astray by looking at number without understanding their context.

# 11 green said, on January 12th, 2009 at 9:39 am

The alcohol kills the good bacteria in the mouth and alters oxygen levels.

# 12 brm said, on January 12th, 2009 at 11:03 am

Oh, great. Now my choices are: use mouthwash, die of cancer; don’t use mouthwash, die of inflammatory bacteria migrating into my heart via gums.

# 13 Mister Mustard said, on January 12th, 2009 at 11:28 am

#2 – More Hype

>>This leads me to suggesting a way to
>>completely wipe out the budget deficit, fire
>>all these scientists who keep wasting good
>>tax payer money on studies that have been
>>done thousands of times already.

RTFA. The study was done in Australia, and they don’t have a budget deficit.

And what’s with this “have been done thousands of times already” nonsense?

# 14 RBG said, on January 12th, 2009 at 12:01 pm

Wonder how much acetaldehyde is produced when you drink alcoholic beverages?

RBG

# 15 ran6110 said, on January 12th, 2009 at 12:59 pm

This type of mouthwash has been used for decades, shouldn’t we have seen a huge number of cancer cases by now?

I vote for paid research done by a company coming out with an “all new” mouthwash. First in Australia and then either here or Europe.

# 16 green said, on January 12th, 2009 at 1:08 pm

#15 – “This type of mouthwash has been used for decades, shouldn’t we have seen a huge number of cancer cases by now?”

I’d think that some groups use mouthwash more frequently, e.g. smokers. Smoking would’ve most likely been deemed the cause of the cancer.

# 17 contempt said, on January 12th, 2009 at 1:31 pm

Like most of these studies in fear, in a few years they will report it’s not as bad as they first thought. They will magically discover that the only side effect of mouthwash is that it kills germs, not people.

Where’s my check?

# 18 brm said, on January 12th, 2009 at 2:52 pm

#16 green:

“I’d think that some groups use mouthwash more frequently, e.g. smokers. Smoking would’ve most likely been deemed the cause of the cancer.”

Do you believe they didn’t already think of this? The first question they ask *anyone* participating in a medical study is almost always something like, “are you a smoker?”

# 19 Dave W said, on January 12th, 2009 at 2:59 pm

Hummm….Listerine is 26% alcohol…52 proof. Standard booze is more like 86 proof….43%. Of course, the booze is usually watered down with something, even if it is only ice. But it does make one wonder.

# 20 bobbo said, on January 12th, 2009 at 3:07 pm

Whats the problem here? Don’t like information? Put your head back in the sand.

Course, some raw data would be nice. 5 fold increase in cancer is pretty dramatic—UNLESS—-the cancer incidence goes from .001 to .005 AND death from tooth decay induced heart attacks without the mouthwash goes from .010 to .020.

Lots of variables in this stuff.

# 21 deowll said, on January 12th, 2009 at 5:45 pm

There are alcohol free mouth washes. Wonder if they paid for this?

I go with Bobbo on this. I need some more data. Two many people are trying to scare people for profit.

# 22 Hope said, on January 12th, 2009 at 8:33 pm

Go natural gargle w/ sea salt:)

# 23 Mister Mustard said, on January 12th, 2009 at 8:38 pm

#22 – Hope

You must be white. White people like sea salt.

# 24 hazzamanazz said, on January 13th, 2009 at 12:32 pm

My dentist tells me that mouthwashes with alcohol is not good because they let the gums dry, wich causes them to retract and expose the teeth nerve, so is better to use alcohol-free.

But…cancer!!!

The human race is becoming too stupid with the time pass by, extinction is our only future. >:-(

# 25 food said, on February 16th, 2009 at 11:36 pm

yes,Doc is right according to me.
firstly alcohol is harmful for body and to clean these toxic germs there is need of more powerful liquid so that liquid more toxic for body.
so according to me it is more toxic than alcohol.

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